Excavator



(No Model.) 8

G. J. STAFFORD.

EXGAVATOR} No. 395,854. P888888 5 a 8, 1889.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. STAFFORD, OF AZTEC SPRINGS, COLORADO.

EXCAVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,854, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed April 13, 1888. Serial No. 270,563. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States of America, rcsiding at Aztec Springs, in the county of La Plata and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved construction of machine for the excavation and removal of earth, sand, gravel, &c., in the digging of cellars, canals, ditches, and similar works; and its objects are to furnish an excavator of compact and durable structure, speedy, reliable, and effective in operation, readily adjustable to meet varying conditions of the material operated upon, and provided with means by which the excavated material may be discharged or dumped for removal to any desired point; to which ends it consists in the features more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

I11 practicing myinvention I use as the base of the machine a rigid frame-work mounted on wheels, one of which is arranged to act as the driving-wheel of the mechanism employed. Between arms rising from and rigidly secured to a supplementary frame pivotally mounted upon one of the axles is arranged an endless series of scoops or buckets driven from the main driving-wheel through the medium of a clutchgearing and caused to dip into the material to be removed, and then to be lifted therefrom with a load thereof. The upper bearings for such endless series of scoops or buckets are journaled in the upper ends of such arms, while the lower bearings thereof are j ournaled in the pivoted frame. By means of arms or levers attached to the rigid or fixed frame this pivoted frame may be turned on its pivotal bearing, so as to raise or lower the series of scoops or buckets, the clutclrhandle taking upon a cam or in a camgroove, so that the elevation of the pivoted frame to its upper limit of movement throws the buckets or scoops out of gear, permitting the machine to be moved from place to place without operating the scoops or buckets, while upon the first lowering of the frame the clutch throws them into operative gearing, in which condition they may still further be lowered to take to any desired extent in the material to be removed.

The buckets may be arranged to empty into a chute, which may -be swung to discharge upon either side of the excavation; or they may be arranged into a pivoted dump-box carried in the rigid or fixed frame and provided with a cord or chain passing to within reach of the drivers position, so that he may readily release the box, permitting it to tip and discharge its contents.

The construction thus generally stated may be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which is illustrated an excavator embodying my invention, and in which Figure l is aside view or elevation of such a machine; Fig. 2, a top or plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a side view of an elevated dischargechute; Fig. 4, a view of certain detail of construction.

In the figures the reference-numeral 1 indie-ates the rear axle, and 2 the front axle, of the machine, connected together by the rigid or fixed frame-sides 3 3, extending from the rear axle, 1, to a bolster, 4, on the front axle, 2.

5 5 are the sides and 6 the end of a supplementary frame supported by and pivoted on the rear axle, 1, so as to be capable of swinging or turning vertically on its pivot entirely independent of the rigid or fixed frame. On either side standards 7 S are secured to 5 5, for carrying and supporting at their upper ends bearings for the shaft 12, carrying the upper sprocket-wheels, 13, over which pass the chains ll, carrying the buckets or scoops 15, the chains and buckets or scoops passing over the sprocket-wheels 11 on the lower shaft, 10, j ournaled in the sides 5 5 of the pivoted frame.

The standards 7 8, preferably, should be formed of tubing, each consisting of two or more pieces of suitable-sized tube or pipe 1 united by a screw-connection, 9, which permits the standards to be lengthened or shortened to adjust the distance between the shafts 10 and 12, so that the most effective relation between the sprocket wheels and chains may be maintained. It also permits the standards to be readily lengthened by the insertion of additional or longer pieces, or to be as readily IOO shortened by the removal thereof, so as to use a greater or less length of chain or belt and a greater or less number ot scoops or buckets.

The stz'unlards are so arranged that they support the upper shaft,.l2, and its sprocketwheels 11 in a vertical plane to the rear of the plane of the lower shaft and sprocket-w]ieels, so that the chains or belts and scoops travel in an inclined plane, to the end that the scoops or buckets may the more readily discharge their contents, after passing over the upper wheels, into a proper chute or receptacle.

For the actuation of the sprocket; or band wheels and the chains or belts, with their attached lmckets or scoops, a gear, 1a, is attached to one of the wheels on the rear axle, so as to move and rotate with such wheel.

It meshes with the gear 1.7,loose upon a prol per turns and discharges its load, whereupon hmgation of shaft 10 and forming part of the clutclrgearing on such shaft, the other member of which is the clutch 18, adapted to slide upon such shaft, to be engaged with or disenga ed from loose gear .17, and secured to the she .t; it) by a feather and spline or other suitable means, so as to rotate therewith. This sliding clutch-piece is moved to or from engagement with the loose gear 17 by the yoke and handle 1 f), pivoted in a lug or post on the pivoted frame. Atits outer end such handle takes in a cam-groove, 20, in a lug or lin'aeket, 35, attached to the fixed frame. Such cam or cam-groove (as either may be used) isot' such shape that its extreme top disengages 17 and 18, leaving the former loose upon the shaft, while the rmnainder is of such form that its action on the handle ltl locks them together, and eonse pw-ntly locks the gear it" to the shaft 10.

Upon the front end, ti, ofthe pivoted frame rise arms 21, pivot ally united to arms S4, springing from a rock-shaft, 22, journaled in the rigid or iixed frame. From the rock.shat't another arm, 23, projects, pivoted at its outer end to a rod, 2-1, pivoted in turn to a lever, 25, fulcrumed upon, the front end of one of the tixed sides 3, a locking-plate, 26, being provided to lock the lever and hold it. in any desired position.

The operation as thus far described is as follows: For transportation to the scene of the work the lever 25 is thrown to the front or forward limit of its mov(m1ent, lifting the front end of the swinging frame earryingthe scoops or buckets, so that. they may be entirely free and clear of the surface. This throws the clutch-hamlleit) into the upper inclined part of the cam-groove 20, .lisengaging gear 17 from shaft 10, and the machine may then be hauled to the desired point withou t the scoops or buckets being affected or operated. At the proper place the lever is thrown to the rear, dropping the swinging frameand the scoops 'or buckets, and at the same time causing the clutch to lock gear 17 in operative connection with shaft 10. Thcreupon the buckets or scoops are caused to dip down into the materiz'll, tilling themselves therewit h, and so tilled. they are carried up and over, emptying themselves on their downwzitrd trip. For receiving their discharge a box or hopper, 27, may be pivoted between the rear extensions of sides I) 1; the pivotal points being arranged so that one side of the box or hopper is overbalanced and tends to turn with the open side or mouth outwm'd or downward, so as to discharge its lead. A rope or band, 2!, is attached to the box or hopper and passes over suital'ile pulleys or guideways on the standards to the front of the machine and to aposition where it is within reach of the driver, being there hooked or secured to hold the box or hopper with its mouth upward. The box or hopper being filled, the machine can be driven to the dumping-place, and the rope or band being loosened the box or hopit can be again hooked to receive another load. In a good deal of exeavating-canals, ditches, &e.the excavated material may be dumped upon either side of the excavation. For this purpose arms 2-30, sliding upon the standards, project to the rear of the machine, and are provided with set-screws or clamps E33, by which they may be secured at the desired position on the standards. 'l pon these arms 5.30 is laid the chute 3], in whose sides 32 are journaled the rollers 315, over which passes the endless belt or apron 37. l pon the side toward which it is desired to direct the discharge the arm 30 is lowered, so as to incline the chute dowiiwardly in that direction, so that the material deposited by the scoops upon the belt or apron 37 will pass to that side and fall directly to the ground or into a wagon, cart, or other suitable receptacle movin alongside the machine.

In practice it to be understood that the street to be graded, or the ditch, can al, or other work to be excavated, is first plowed, the machine then passing over the plowed surface and removing the bl'OkOll-HI) nntterial.

l-l'aving th as deseril )ed my invention, what I claim is 1. The etnnbination of the wheels and axles, a main frame rigidly supported thereon, a second frame pivotally supported on an axle and lying normally substantially liiarallel to the fixed frame, a single set olf arms or stamh'n'ds secured to and rising from the pivoted frame, a set of sprocket wheels journaled at the top of the stamlards, a set of sprocketwheels journaled in the pivoted frame, an endless chain of ln'ickiiits passing over the two sets of sprocket-w]reels, gearin g for actuating the lower sprt)cket-wheels, gearing upon the main driving wheel. or axle, and a clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting such gearings, substz'mtially as set forth.

2. The combination ojtthesupportingwheels and axles, a main frame rigidly supportet'l thereon, a second :frame pivotally supported onthe main axle, arms or st andards secured thereto and rising tlu -reli'rom, sprocket-wheels journaled in the upper ends of such arms or standards, sprocket-wheels journaled in the pivoted frame, an endless belt of scoops or buckets passing around such sprocket-wheels, a gear loose upon the shaft of the lower sprocket-wheels, a gear attached to the main driving wheel or axle, a clutch mechanism for locking the loose gear to the shaft of the lower sprocket-wheels, a lever-arm pivoted upon the fixed frame, and lever-arms connecting it to the pivoted frame to simultaneously rock the pivoted frame upon the main axle, lifting its forward end, and operate the clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the supporting wheels and axles, a main frame rigidly supported thereon, a second frame pivoted upon the main axle, arms or standards secured thereto and rising therefrom to support an upperset of sprocket-wheels, a lower set of sprocketwheels journaled in the pivoted frame, an endless band of scoops or buckets traveling around such wheels, a loose gear upon the shaft of the lower band or sprocket wheels, a clutch mechanism for locking such gear to its shaft, gearing attached to the main drivingwheel or its axle, arms 30, vertically adjustable upon the rear of two of the upright standards or arms, and a discharge-clmte supported by such arms 30, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of th e supporting wheels and axles, a main frame rigidly supported thereon, a second frame pivotally supported on the main axle, arms or standards secured thereto and rising therefrom, a set of band 01. sprocket wheels journaled at the top of such arms or standards, a set journaled in the pivoted frame, an endless belt of buckets or scoops passing over such wheels, gearing actuated by the main drive-wheel or its axle for imparting motion to the sprocket-wheels and belt or chain of buckets, a clutch mechanism for such gearing, a lever-arm pivoted to the rigid frame, connections therefrom to control the clutch mechanism and swing or rock the pivoted frame, and a tilting overbalanced receiving box or hopper pivoted in the rear of the fixed frame, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the supporting wheels and axles, a main frame rigidly supported thereby, a second frame pivotally supported upon an axle, arms or standards secured thereto and rising therefrom, and each consisting of tubular sections united by a screw-ring coupling forming means for longitudinal adjustment, two sets of sprocket or band wheels, one set journaled in the upper ends of the standards and one set journaled in the pivoted frame, an endless belt or chain of buckets passing over such wheels, a gearing loose upon the shaft of the lower sprocket-wheels, a clutch mechanism for locking such gear to its shaft, and a gearing upon the main driving-wheel or its axle, substantially as set forth.

(3. The combination of a rigid frame, a pivotally-supported frame, two sets of pulley or sprocket wheels journaled therein, an endless series of scoops orbuckets traveling thereover, gearing connecting the wheels or pulleys to the main driving-wheels, and a clutch mech anism in such gearing having a projecting handle taking in a cam-groove attached to the rigid frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. J. STAFFORD.

lVitnesscs:

Z. F. WILBER, B. L. PoLLoeK. 

